Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-20
CHAPTER V.


SWELL" said her mother, "when l got up
this morning found a note put outside my
door, in which But here it il, you can
read 1t for yourself" and She gave me the
slip of paper, on which the following was
written:
DEAREST Mt is just dawn, and
an off TO the hills 10 get Mr. Ga bloom
of the lily he wants, 80 don't expect me till
you see me have taken the white donkey,
and nurse and couple of boys are coming
with me-also something to eat, as may be
away all day, for am determined TO get tie
lilly If have to go twenty miles for it
-FLosSE-
Il hope she will he all right" said, a
little anxiou>ly. II never meant her TO
trouble after the flower"
'.Ah- FloSSle CAD look after herself" said
her mother; ''she often goes Off IN this way
like true child Of the wilderness" But Mr..
Mackenzie, who came in Just then and saw
the note for the first time, looked rather
grave, though he said nothing.
After breakfast was over took him aside
and asked HIM if 1t would not be possible to
send after the girl and get her back, having
in view the possibility of there still being
some Nasal hanging about, at whose hands
she might come to harm.
..l fear it would lie of no use, :" he answered
''She may be fifteen miles off by now, and it
l. impossible to say what path she has taken
There are the hills" and be pointed to a long
rangs Of rising ground stretching almost par
allel with the course followed by the river
Tspa, but gradually sloping down to a dense
buzz clad plain about five miles short of the
house.
i tod lat mig fr.fgr hs
great tree over the house and search the
country round with a spyglass; and this,
after Mr.. Mackenzie had given some orders
to his people to try and follow Flossie's spoor,
We did
The ascent of the mighty tree was rather
. jumry performance, even with a sound
rope ladder fixed AT both ends 10 climb up, at
least 10 a landsnan; but Good came up like q
lamp lighter.
On reaching the height at which the first
fern shaped boughs sprung from the bole, we
stepped without any difficulty upon a plat
form made Of boards, nailed from one bougb
to another, and large enough to accommodate
dozen people.
But look as we would, we could see nc
signs of FloSsie and her donkey, so at last
had to come down disappointed. On reach
ing the veranda fou vi Umslopogaas sitting
there, slowly and lightly sharpening his Ak
with a small milestone lie always carried
with him
What doest thou. Umslopogaasf" l asked.
Il smell blood" was the answer, and i
could get no more out of him.
After dinner we again went up the tree
and searched the surrounding country with
spy glass, but without result.
Shortly after the people whom Mr.. Mac
kenzie had sent out to search for Flossie
returned, stating that they had followed the
spoor of the donkey for a couple of miles, and
had then lost il ON some stony ground, nor
could they discover II again. They had,
however, secured the country far and wide,
but without success
After this the afternoon wore drearily on,
and toward evening there still being no signs
Of Flossie, our anxiety grew very keen. As
for the poor mother, she was quite Frustrated
by her fears, and no wonder but the father
kept his head wonderfully well. Everything
that could lie done was dnns; people Were
sent out in all directions, shots were fired,
and a custinuous outlook kept from the
great tree, but without avail.
And then at last il grew dark, and still no
sign of fair haired little Flossie
At O'Clock we had supper 1t was but
sorrow'al meal and Mrs Mackenzie did not
appear at it We three also were very silent
for in addition to our natu al anxiety as TO
the fate Of the child we Were weighed down
by the sense that had brought this trouble
on the head II our kind host When supper
was nearly at an end made an excuse to
leave the table. wanted TO get outside and
think the situation over. went on to the
veranda, aud having lit my pipe sat down
on a seat about dozen feet from the right
hand end Of the structure. which was, as the
reader NAV remember, exactly opposite one
of the narrow doors of the protecting wall
that inclosed the house and flower garden
had been sitting there perhaps six or seven
minutes when | thought | heard the door
move looked III that direction and listened,
but being unable to make out anything con-
cluded that must have been mistaken. 1t
WAS a darkish night, the moon not having yet
risen.
Another minute passed, when suddenly
something round fell with soft but heavy
thud upon the stone flooring of the veranda
md came bounding ami rolling past me. For
q moment d d not rise but sat wondering
what it could be. Finally | concluded it
must have been an animal. Just then, how
ever, another idea struck me, and got up
quick enough. The thing lay quite still a
few feet beyond me. put down my hands
towards ii and it did not move; clearly it was
not an animal. Ny hand touched it 1t was
soft and warm and heavy. Hurriedly /
lifted it and held it up against the faint star
light
II was a newly severed human head.
am an old hand and not easily upset. but
own that that ghastly sight made me feel
4, Ill, .n,
was itf put 1t down and ran to the little
door way. could see nothing, hear nobody.
/ was about to go out into the darkness be-
yond, but remembering that 10 do SO was to
expose myself TO the risk of being stabbed,
drew back, shut the door, and bolted it.
Then i returned TO the veranda, and in as
careless voice as l could command, called
Curtis. fear, however, that my tones must
have betrayed me, for not only Sir Henry
but also Good and Mackenzie rose from the
table and came hurTying out.
What is itF' said the clergyman, snx
iously.
Then had TO tell them.
Mr.. Mackenzie turned pale as death under
bis red skin We were standing opposite the
hall door, and there was a light in it so that
could see. He snatchei the head up by the
hair and held il in the light.
At is the head of one Of the men who ac-
companed FioSsie," he said, with a gasp.
Thank God, it is not hers!'
We all stood and stared at each other
aghast What was to be donei
Just then there was knocking at the door
that had Loitcl, and q voice cried, Open,
my father, opem.'
The door was unlocked and in fed terri
fed man He WAS one OF the spies who had
been sent out.
My father" he cried, 1.-The Nasal are on
us, A great body Of them have passed
round the hill ami are moving toward the
old stone kraal down by the little stream.